The latest version of Google’s Chrome web browser for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android adds support for push notifications from website: and not just websites you’re currently viewing.

For example, an auction website might ask if you want to enable notifications to let you know when you’ve been outbid. You can then close that browser tab, but receive an update when someone bids more than your current limit.

outbid

Worried that this opens the door for websites to spam your web browser with pointless alerts? You’ll only receive notifications when you’ve actively given your permission to a website to send them… and each notification is required to have a “site settings” button that lets you disable notifications, so if you get too many from a particular site you can quickly and easily disable them.

Update: Google has announced that some of the first websites to offer push notifications will include eBay, Facebook, Pinterest, and VICE News.

The push notifications come courtesy of a new Push API, a native notifications API, and support for service workers and Google Cloud Messaging. It’ll be up to individual websites to implement the feature — so don’t be surprised if you don’t find a lot of sites offering to send you notifications right away.

Google Chrome 42 for lets websites that meet Google’s criteria display an “add to home screen” banner, making it easier for users to quickly add a link to a web page to their home screen.

add to home

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2 replies on “Google Chrome 42 lets web pages send notifications even after you close a tab (with your permission)”

  1. I never agreed to the vice news notifications, yet I am getting them constantly. I left clicked them and selected “disable” but they still come. Any suggestions?

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